Beauty and the Beast (2017 film)

I had no issue with any of the cast Emma was fine , not the best singer but was fine. The huge issue for me was that it lacked magic, romance and was so bloated, overlong and really no point for it to exist.

Well that was quite a journey 😜 Although I might've done the same myself if it were Luke Evans...

I've seen the film twice and loved it both times - I had my reservations about Emma Watson before seeing it but I thought she was the perfect Belle. Audra and Luke Evans are stars and I enjoyed Ewan MacGregor's 'Be Our Guest' (thought his voice sounded very strained in Moulin Rouge and this was a better sing for him). Loved the new songs too, the soundtrack is amazing! Fingers crossed this might give Disney a push to revive the stage version soon...

Someone that isn't a bad actress and singer.

I feel we should shout out that, in just 12 days of release, this movie has taken $693.5 million, blowing all other movie musicals out of the water and is on track to become one of the highest-grossing movies of all time!

Well, the key here is that is some people's opinion. NOT a fact.
I thought her voice was emotional, not with a sledgehammer and totally OTT but rather subtle and that's why her casting worked for me.

Of course but that's the case for every single piece of commentary or criticism ever given on any piece of art in history. It's all just opinion. But when a negative opinion is one that is shared between many people then there may be a problem. 

Whilst Disney undoubtedly made this movie as a way to make money, they clearly put effort into it being creatively successful too ie. through casting Luke Evans as Gaston due to him being great for the part even though he is not necessarily very famous. I'm sure Disney are happy with the performance of this movie but I think they'd be even happier if Emma's performance had been received more positively. If audiences voicing their opinions means that they take more care in their casting next time, then that can only be a good thing.

Gosh! A company doing something in order to make money. What fiends! How could they?

I just saw the film and thought it was lovely overall. Mainly because the director embraced the artform and understood the importance of this language. A non-literal language, sung thoughts, so he went all the way at times with wonderful cinematography, editing and pre-recorded tracks, which is essential for a musical film.

"Spoiler alert"

There were several scenes that had me in awe of sheer beauty and emotion. I loved the opening sequence with the wonderful singing of Audra and the ensemble scene. That really set the tone and mood. The impressive appearance of the enchantress (reminded me of Esmeralda coming out of the mirror during Hellfire in THOND), I loved the camera work and sets. Indoors and outdoors, just beautiful and theatrical. Original and playful camera work and editing in "Belle". I loved the new songs. Days in the sun was wonderfully melancholy and emotional. I loved the Beast's Evermore. I loved everything the wardrobe sang. These moments were spot on. Loved Lumiere, loved Mrs Potts, I loved Gaston and le Fou. It's really delightful and emotional when characters sing so well on screen. It takes the film/scenes to a higher level. Especially with pre-recorded tracks, which creates a "better than life reality" with heightened emotions. It is not about being literal, speaking the words in musical on film. The power lies in the opposite. Also, the singing of all the characters mentioned felt natural. Except for Emma Watson, the singing of the others was much more legit than anyone in the Les miserables film, yet it felt much more natural. That's why I think this film is 100 times better than the les Miserables film. Which failed at all of these things and had nothing in it that felt natural. Which should be an eye opener for producers and directors. What works better in musical on film, a non-literal approach, going all the way, or a literal approach, creating a style clash and constant switching. Definitely the first.

Now, there were also a few things that i did not like, of which I think should have been better. Emma Watson's singing really felt out of place. Especially compared to the rest of the cast. When she sang the bridge in "Something there" I really thought: what a shame. Especially because it's not even necessary to see her mouthing the lyrics there. It's a sung thought. The whole film embraces this language, so why not just have a good singer as a voice over there? Or dubbing her singing in general. This was really too lifeless and lame, which did not fit the film at all.

I also felt that the parts they sung "live" on set were especially bad and autotuned. The songs recorded in a studio sounded much more alive and better. "Belle" sounds weird and "Evermore" only sounds good after the first verse, which is weird.

When Belle visits the West Wing and sees the rose there was this really generic music, the moment fell completely flat, I can't believe they did not include the lush score from the animated film there. Why was that?

I did not like the librarian giving Belle the book in "Belle". That is supposed to be an older man, the only villager who understand her love for books, now it was some young, sassy gay guy who looked like he was taking the piss, but then why did he give her a book? I did not understand tis scene at all. It was not genuine. I did not understand her reaction when she said "thank you' either. It was weird and forced.

What I did love was the "grandmother remark" Mrs Potts made near the end, which she took as an insult (referring to the complaints that mrs Potts has always looked more like Chip's grandma) and I loved the fact that in "Something there" when Belle threw a snowball at the beast, he actually threw one back in her face. This always bothered me in the original, because even in films today like `La La land, the male character is portrayed as a beast/A-hole in the beginning, but then later the male character always has to be goofy and charming and submissive. While in real life, of course he would throw a snowball back! And it only gives the female character more charm if she can laugh about it.


So, overall I loved it, they got many things right, but it could have been better.


Ps. A special-shout to the fishing lady singing in the intro of The Mob song. She really went for it.